This weekend marks the start of a new Division 3 hockey season. Though several teams played a handful of games last winter, this will be the first season since 2019-20 with conference championships, and the first since 2018-19 with an NCAA tournament.
Rosters, and they are big rosters this season, have turned over plenty since March of 2020, though many players have taken advantage of the NCAA’s blanket waiver and are using a fifth year of eligibility.
A little over four months from now, champions will be crowned in the NESCAC, MASCAC, Commonwealth Coast and NEHC.
Here is our New England preseason top 10.
For a look at Division 3 players to watch click here.
1. NORWICH
Conference: NEHC | Coach: Cam Ellsworth, 4th year
2020-21 result: 7-1 | 2019-20 result: 24-2-2, won NEHC championship
Opener: Saturday vs. Salve Regina (7 p.m.)
Yes, 16 of the 31 players on the roster are new. But this program hasn’t missed a step since Ellsworth took over for Mike McShane after the 2017-18 season and it’s still the region’s measuring stick.
At the outset, the optimism is fueled by the defense, depth, and goalies Drennen Atherton and Andrew Albano. Veterans Cale List and Callum Jones are joined on the blueline by Logan vande Meerakker and Devon Becker, a transfer from the program at Bryn Athyn that transitioned to club status.
“I think depth is, hopefully, going to be our strength,” said Ellsworth. “We lost some high-end players so our depth is going to have to be our strength.”
2. BABSON
Conference: NEHC | Coach: Jamie Rice (Newton, Mass.), 18th year
2020-21 result: 8-0 | 2019-20 result: 18-6-2, earned NCAA at-large bid
Opener: Saturday at Plymouth State (6 p.m.)
The Beavers take the ice as one of the most veteran teams in the region. There are 14 seniors or grad students on their 27-player roster, including returning first-line forwards Ryan Black (Pomfret, Conn.) and Mike Egan (Billerica, Mass.), and goalie Brad Arvanitis (Holliston, Mass.).
“We have to play to our ability,” said Rice. “When good teams play to their ability they have success.”
3. TRINITY
Conference: NESCAC | Coach: Matt Greason (North Bridgton, Maine), 11th year
2020-21 result: 0-0 | 2019-20 result: 19-7-1
Opener: Nov. 19 at Conn. College (7 p.m.)
Unlike many of his peers, Greason will take the ice with a small senior class -- just three forwards and one defenseman. Of course it helps that one of those forwards is standout Lucas Michaud (South Portland, Maine).
A young group will be bolstered by four Division 1 transfers -- forwards Devon Tongue (Bentley) and Jax Murray (Arizona State), defenseman Christian DiCesare (Notre Dame) and goalie Patrick Pugliese (Niagara).
"Up front, we'll be as deep as our teams have been in a while," said Greason.
4. ENDICOTT
Conference: Commonwealth Coast | Coach: RJ Tolan (Waltham, Mass.), 7th year
2020-21 result: 3-0 | 2019-20 result: 22-5, won CCC championship
Opener: Friday at Salem State (7 p.m.)
Champions during the last (almost) full season in 2019-20, the Gulls will again be the team to beat in the Commonwealth Coast, and they’ll get tested right off the bat, with series against contenders Salve Regina and UNE the first two weekends of November.
Conor O’Brien, the Goalie of the Year in the CCC two years ago, gives them a big asset in goal, and players like Nick Mazur will swarm up front.
5. WILLIAMS
Conference: NESCAC | Coach: Bill Kangas (South Burlington, Vt.), 32nd year
2020-21 result: 0-0 | 2019-20 result: 17-8-1
Opener: Nov. 19 at Colby (7 p.m.)
Since returning from a year-long sabbatical that caused him to miss the 2017-18 season, Kangas has led the Ephs to a 31-17-3 record and a first-place finish in the 2019-20 regular season before the pandemic arrived.
Look for more wins this winter, as the core of that 2019-20 team was made up of sophomores and juniors. We've seen what Evan Ruschil can do in the net, after posting a 2.07 GAA and .937 save percentage as a freshman and earning league Rookie of the Year honors.
6. PLYMOUTH STATE
Conference: MASCAC | Coach: Craig Russell (Northfield, Vt.), 12th season
2020-21 result: 4-4 | 2019-20 result: 15-9-3, won MASCAC championship
Opener: Friday at Plattsburgh State (7 p.m.)
The Panthers had 13 players produce double-digit points in 2019-20, and several of them are back to lead another strong group, including junior Myles Abbate (Norwell, Mass.), who has 36 points in 35 career games.
“I really like our combination of size and speed up front, and think we have a very good group of defensemen,” said Russell.
7. UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND
Conference: Commonwealth Coast | Coach: Kevin Swallow, 7th year
2020-21 result: 4-0 | 2019-20 result: 18-5-3
Opener: Nov. 5 at Nichols (5:40 p.m.)
With 13 seniors and grad students, the Nor’easters have a core of players who’ve experienced success and a coach whose record is a gaudy 92-38-13.
Austin Morgan and Justin Dixson are proven scorers up front, and Liam Darcy (East Waterboro, Maine) adds offensive punch from the blueline.
8. WESLEYAN
Conference: NESCAC | Coach: Chris Potter (Warwick, R.I.), 19th year
2020-21 result: 0-0 | 2019-20 result: 15-11-1, won NESCAC championship
Opener: Nov. 19 at Tufts (7 p.m.)
There will be a new face in goal after Tim Sestak (Darien, Conn.) concluded his stellar career.
Up front, Tyler Levine (9-14-23) is among the returners from a group that caught fire in the NESCAC tournament two years ago, rolling past Middlebury (4-2), Williams (3-2) and Trinity (7-2) to win the program's first title.
9. AMHERST
Conference: NESCAC | Coach: Jack Arena (Randolph, Mass.), 39th year
2020-21 result: 0-0 | 2019-20 result: 9-12-4
Opener: Nov. 19 at Hamilton (7 p.m.)
The Mammoths will take the ice with a 30-player roster that logged a lot of games before the pandemic. Three of their double-digit scorers are back, including defenseman Pieter von Steinbergs, a scoring threat from the blueline.
Historically, Amherst's great seasons have been backboned by tight defense. With three regulars back from that unit -- a group Arena terms "deep and talented" -- there's a foundation to build on this winter. Forward Matt Toporowski and defenseman Connor McGinnis are two freshmen to watch.
10. SALVE REGINA
Conference: Commonwealth Coast | Coach: Zech Klann, 5th year
2020-21 result: 0-0 | 2019-20 result: 14-11-1
Opener: Saturday at Norwich (7 p.m.)
Klann has built a winner at Salve, and he’ll try to keep the Seawolves in contention with a lineup that includes 19 newcomers, including transfers from D-1 programs Merrimack, Quinnipiac and Clarkson.
Forwards Tyler Carangelo (Hamden, Conn.) and George Sennott (North Andover, Mass.) are two of the established quantities who’ll drive the effort up front.
@MikeZhe603
mzhe@hockeyjournal.com
